National Master and, 13-time defending national champion
Christo Cave survived a bit of a scare in the first round, with his
opponent David Christopher missing checkmate in three moves, to
eventually win that game when competition in the New India Assurance
Chess Championships got underway last weekend at the Rooftop Rhand
Credit Union, Abercromby Street.

The seasoned champion Cave and a young debutant Sean
Perryman produced perfect results.

Cave won his second game to join Perryman for the
leadership on two points. Perryman, a first time finalist and also
the youngest player at these games.

In other action Hayden Lee, another debutant to the finals,
created a major upset when he displayed a game way beyond his
ranking to defeat second seed and former national champion
Yogendranath Ramsingh (nm) in the first round of play.

Lee is the lowest rated player in this tournament but has
been the most improved player during the last year and has already
stated that he has nothing to lose.

According to Ryan Harper (FM), the country’s first
internationally titled player and National Champion in 2002,
“Hayden’s aggressive style of play and ability to fight back from
apparent positional shambles makes him a serious threat to the most
experienced of players” and forecasts even more surprises like that
of the first round.

The first round saw three victories and three draws but the
second round play was a more decisive affair with Cave, Sean, Mario
Merritt (FM), Michael Pouchet (FM), Ramsingh (NM) scoring wins while
the sole drawn game was between Ryan Harper (FM) and David
Christopher.

Play continues this weekend from 4 pm at the Rooftop Rhand
Credit Union, Abercromby Street.